Zhu Di And Zheng He Sparknotes

The two main characters of this book are Zhu Di and Zheng He. Zhu Di was the third emperor of the Ming Dynasty. He was the person who started the construction of the trading ships, warships, and support vessels. Zhu Di was the emperor that assigned Zheng He to be the commander of the seven epic expeditions across the China Sea and Indian Ocean. Zhu Yuanzhang, the first Ming Emperor, believed that China should stay separated from foreign countries. He followed the Confucian belief that trade relationships were dangerous. They felt that trade relations would mean that China was not self-sufficient and relied on others. Zhu Di did not believe in that, and he had a different vision for China’s future. He believed that China should develop trade

This book also took place in the countries the treasure fleet traveled to. That includes the Spice Islands, Taiwan, the Indian coast, the African coast, and Australia. The historical time period involved is primarily from early-fifteenth century to mid-fifteenth century. It was when Zhu Di ascended the Dragon Throne after a battle with Zhu Yunwen. Then, Zhu Di ordered the construction of an imperial Fleet of ships in 1403. Zhu Di sent his loyal servant Zheng He on many voyages with the empire’s finest silk, lacquerware, and porcelains. The point of the expeditions was not exactly for trade and war. Zheng He simply tried to establish relationships with rulers who could pay tribute to Zhu Di. So, Zheng He had to use the method of trading to establish these relations. Eunuch Zheng He came back with ambassadors from all over the world who had tributes for the emperor. These voyages allowed China to control the seas and be very powerful. The warships of the fleet enabled China to keep pirates under control and resolve conflicts between foreign countries. Zhu Di believed that trade relationships with foreign countries would really benefit China. He felt that China residents would benefit from foreign items and goods. He also knew about the significance of spreading Chinese culture. These voyages were very essential to help spread China’s culture throughout the

Without a doubt, China’s naval power was essential to its dominance. China had total control in the seas and was a very strong force. China’s strong naval power enabled it to settle conflict between other countries and control pirates. It also allowed china to keep the Mongols in northern China at bay. China’s power developed after Zhu Di ordered the construction of the treasure ships and warships. I have also learned that the 7 voyages were very important to China. The voyages, commanded by Zheng He, really played a huge rule in China’s growth. These voyages helped establish trade relationships with other countries. These relationships allowed China to trade with other countries and form close ties with foreign rulers. The voyages were also important because they spread Chinese people and culture around the globe. Another thing that I have learned is that China would not be as strong as it was without Zhu Di. Zhu Di becoming emperor was one of the most important things to happen for the Ming Dynasty. Zhu Di was the one that launched the construction of the Treasure Fleet and sent Zheng He on multiple adventurous voyages. The construction of the Treasure Fleet allowed China to travel around the globe and be very powerful. It also allowed China to form connections with foreign countries and rulers. The warships of the Fleet enabled China to settle disputes between foreign countries and be dominant.